Oil reclaimer



Jan. 12, 1937.. F, A- HEADSON 2,067,396

OIL RECLAIMER Filed Oct. 18, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet l WIT/5155555 Y l l' QQQiEQ/f y. y v ATTORNEY l Jan; 12, 1937. F. A HEADSQN 2,067,396

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OIL RECLAIMER Filed Oct. 18, 1935 8 SheebS-Sheel'I 3 SWQ /N VEN TOR ATTOQNFV Jan. 12, 193 7.

F. A. H'EADSON on. REGLAIMER Filed Oct. 1B, 1933 8 Shees--Sheetl 4 1v1@ 12 DI /NVENTOR ATTRNEY Jan. 12, 19.37. F, A. HEADsoN 2,067,396

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ZZ O EVIGQIQ WWA/5555 z5 I Q? Zjl/ENTo/e @www ATTORNEY F. A. HEADsoN 2,067,396

OIL RECLAIMER Jan. l2, 1937.

Filed Oct. 18, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 :LTL-EQ, ZI IEG. ZZ 35 Plo W/ TNESSE /A/ VEN 70ema ,6K MCM Rg/aww ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 12, 1937 UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The invention relates to apparatus for reclaiming used lubricating oil.

An object of the invention is to provide a compact, self-contained and automatically operated 5-Y oil reclaimer by which used lubricating oils can be restored to their proper condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide an oil reclaimer having a still the temperature of which controls the oil flow and the operation l of the device, there being Ventilating means for the still.

A further object of the invention is to provide an oil reclaimer having neutralizing and scrubbing compartments through which the oil is passed, the compartments being equipped with effective lter screens which can be readily cleaned.

A further object is to provide oil filtering means comprising a lter pad into which oil ilows by gravity and on which bears movable scraper shoes, the filter pad compartment being ventilated through the still.

A further object is to provide an oil reclaimer in which oil ilows by gravity through the several instrumentalities.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a sectional elevation, looking rearwardly, of an oil reclaimer embodying the invention, the sectional plane being near and parallel to the iront wall oi the device;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a selector valve for oils of diiierent body;

40 Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of an adjustable valve member of the valve of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken along the line --S of Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken along the line l'-l of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of a filter screen element;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the screen element before shaping;

lil is a sectional elevation of the still and subjacent filter of Fig. l;

Fig. ll is a plan view of a still baffle plate;

Fig. i2 is an edge view of the baiile plate;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the still taken along the line l3--i3 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a sectional View taken along the line l4-l4 of Fig. 10;

Fig. l is a sectional view taken along the line I5-l5 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of one of the lter pad Scrapers;

Fig. 17-is a wiring diagram for the reclaimer;

Fig. 18 is a rear elevation of the reclaimer;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken along the line |9--l9 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken along the line 20-20 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a front elevation of the reclaimer. and

Fig. 22 is a side elevation of the reclaimer.

In these drawings, 25 designates an outer housing provided with supporting legs 26 and having a reduced upper end in which is mounted a receiving tank 21 for oil to be reclaimed, the tank having a hinged cover 28. The receiving tank is surrounded by suitable heat-insulating material 29, and an electric heater 3B is mounted at the bottom wall of the tank for heating the oil introduced into the tank. A float 3l in the tank 21 has a stem 32 connected to a tiltably mounted lever 33 carrying a mercury tube switch 34, the function of which is hereinafter explained. The switch is mounted in a compartnient 35 above the rear portion of the receiving tank 21.

A small regulating tank 36 is disposed laterally of the receiving tank 21 and is connected to the lower portion of the latter tank by a pipe 31. Oil is admitted from the receiving tank to the regulating tank through the pipe 31 and through a valve 38 (Fig. 2) controlled by a float 39 in the latter tank acting on a pivotally mounted lever 40. The regulating tank is provided with a hinged cover 4|.

A valve base 42 is secured to the bottom wall of the regulating tank and has an outlet opening 43. A vertical valve stem 44 is rotatably mounted in the valve base 42 and carries a disk 45 resting on the flat upper face of the valve base. A circular series of ports 46 of different diameters are formed in the disk to selectively register with the outlet opening 43 in the base for controlling the flow of oils of different body. A spring detent 41 is carried by the valve base and cooperates with a circular series of cavities 48 formed in the bottom face of the disk to hold the disk in adjusted position. A notched handwheel 49 is secured to the upper end of the valve stem 43 to adjust the disk.

The upper ends of the ports 46 in the disk 45 are chamfered to form valve seats for avball valve 50 above the outlet opening 43 in the valve base 42. The ball valve 50 is lifted by a solenoid 5| to permit the flow of oil from the regulating tank, the solenoid being controlled in a manner hereinafter explained. The head of oil above the valve base is maintained substantially constant by the iioat-controlled Valve 38.

A neutralizing tank 52 is mounted Within the housing 25 near one side wall thereof, the tank being suitably heat-insulated and divided into two compartments 53 and 54 by a vertical partition wall 55. The tank 52 holds a suitable neutralizing solution, such as a solution of basic tri-phosphate of soda, which is heated by an. electric heater 56 mounted at the bottomwall of the tank. The partition 55 is spaced from the bottom wall and is apertured adjacent the solu-Av i tion level to permit circulation. PetY cocks 51 are provided for determining the solution level and for draining the solution.` f

' The tank compartment 54 is closed at the top by a hinged cover 58 and receives therein a removable lter or screen grid 59 which slidably ts in place. The filter comprises spaced Vertical channels 60 and 6| at opposite edges, having their webs at the inner sides and joined by a series of inclined screens 62 of inverted V-shaped cross-section (Fig. 8). Each screen is formed of a sheet of line mesh brass or other wire fabric 63 (Fig. 9) bent to shape and supported by three parallel rods 64, one at the ridge and two at opposite edges. The wire fabric is soldered in place and the ends of the screen are closed. The rods 64 are riveted or` otherwise secured to the webs of the channels 60 and 6|. The inclined screens are spaced one above the other, and each has an oil vent opening 65 near its elevated end, adjacent screens being inclined in opposite directions. A lifting bar 66 connects the upper ends of the channels 60 and 6|. The upper end of the channel 60 is flared to form a funnel 6l (Fig. 6) to introduce the solution, and the lower end of the channel has a notch 68 to pass the solution.

A pipe 69 is secured to the valve base 421v at the bottom of the regulating tank 36 and discharges oil downwardly from the outlet opening 43 in the valve base. The pipe extends to the bottom of the neutralizing tank and has a reversely curved lower end which discharges upwardly into the filter compartment 54 and below the lower end of the lo-wermost screenr62 (Figs. l and 6). The warm oil flows upwardly along the screens in a sinuous path to be neutralized by the solution and to deposit foreign matter on the screens, the foreign matter being coagulated by the solution. As soon as a globule of oil is freed of its foreign matter it will pass upwardly through the screens in a more or less direct course. The upward movement of the oil through and along the screens induces a circulatory movement of the solution between the compartments 53 and 54. .Y

The filtered and neutralized oil collects above the solution and flows into a Weir-forming trap 'i6 (Figs. 1 and 2) and thence by gravity through a horizontal pipe 1| to the other side of the housing. The pipe 'H is connected to a vertical pipe 72, the upper part of which forms a vent and the lower end of which is discharged'into the bottom portion of a scrubbing tank 13 which is suitably heat-insulated and which is heated by an electric heater 'I4 at its bottom Wall. A i'ilter or screen grid 15, somewhat similar to the lter 59, slidably ts in the scrubbing tank and is removable through the upper end of the tank which is normally closed by a hinged cover '16. The lter l5 comprises spaced Vertical channels i1 and i8 at opposite edges connected by a lifting bar i9 at the top and by a` series of inclined screens 80 similar to the screens 62. The lower end of the channel 'il has a notch 8| permitting water, sludge, and solution removed from the oil to be drained through a pipe 82. Above the screens 80, the rising cil iiows into a trap-forming baiiie compartment 83, from which it is discharged by gravity through a pipe 84.

The pipe 6@ is connected to a still 85 which is supported on the rear Wall of the housing 25 by screws 86 tapped into lugs El' formed on the still; The still has a sloping bottom wall, the

outerside of which lsupports electric heating elements 88, and the inner side of which has integrally formed thereon a series of parallel ribs 89 and 90 extending transversely ofthe still. Each rib 69 is notched at one end and forms a dam, and successive ribs 89 have their notches at opposite ends. The ribs 95 are shorter than the width of the still.' The ribs 89 and 90 provide an extensive heating surface and cause the oil to flow in a sinuous course. The oil enters the still at an upper corner of the sloping bottom wall, and the treated oil is discharged at a lower corner of the bottom through a downwardly projecting nozzle 9|. The still is surrounded by an insulating jacket 92 held in place by a marginal flange 93 at the upper edge of the still and by a screw 94 threaded into the bottom of the still. A cover 95 is secured to the still by a central clamping bolt 96 and is provided with ventilating openings 9i and 93, and with a pair of thermometer well openings 99 which are normally closed by pipe plugs |00. A rectangular sheet metal baiile plate is clamped at its edges at the upper part of the still by the cover and is bent to form a shallow trough (Fig. l2) which discharges into a cross trough E02 formed in the still adjacent the deeper end wall thereof. The baille plate has perforations |632' near its edges and also has perforations |02 to pass the bolt 96, the air inlet 91, and the thermometer wells, the latter perforations being surrounded by upstanding flanges.

The still opening 9'! is connected by an inlet pipe 03 with the interior space of the casing 25, and the opening 98 is connected by a pipe |04 leading to a condenser mounted on the outer side of the rear wall of the housing. A bleeder pipe E06 connects the still trough |02 with the condenser. The condenser is air-cooled by a fan |61 driven by an electric motor |08. The odorous still vapors are drawn through the condenser by an exhaust or suction fan |09 driven by an electric motor H5. -The vapors and entrained liquid from the condenser pass through a separator i, from which water and a light oil of the penetrating type drains through a pipe H2 of small diameter. The non-condensed vapors are discharged bythe exhaust fan through a pipe H3.

The oil treated in the still drains therefrom through the nozzle 9| and into a horizontal trough-forming bracket or frame ||4 (Figs. 10 and 14) secured within the housing. A horizontal shaft H5 is journalled in the bracket and is driven by an electric motor H6 (Fig. 18) mounted on the rear wall of the housing 25 and connected to the shaft by a flexible coudoorway is closed by a hinged door |39.

pling |.|1. The shaft |'|5 carries aworm H8 which'meshes with a worm wheel ||9 carried on a vertical shaft |20 journalled in the bracket |14 and in a bearing plate |2| secured above the bracket. The vertical shaft |20 carries a pinion |22 which meshes with a gear |23 on a vertical shaft |24 journalled in the'bracket and bearing plate. Below the bracket the shaft |24 has a downwardly projecting squared portion on which is slidably` mounted against relative rotation a trough-forming arm |25 (Figs. 10 and 15) having an enlarged central portion which .registers with an oil drain opening |26 in the bracket or frame. The oil draining from the still into the bracket lubricates the gearing on the bracket and drains through the opening |23 into the rotary trough-forming arm |25 which turns at a slow speed. The arm |25 is divided into two basins by an angular transverse rib |25 at its hub portion, and the downward movement of the arm is limited by a pin |21 on the shaft |24. Drain openings |28 are formed near opposite ends of the arm at different radii from the shaft |24, and the longer end of the arm receives more oil than the shorter end.

Oil drops from the rotary arm |25 onto a lter pad |28 which preferably consists of a ribbon of cellulose cotton having a crepe surface and wound into a cylindrical block or about a 4cardboard core |25', the axis of the block extending vertically. The pad is supported in a cup-shaped holder |38 and rests. on radial ribs formed cn the bottom wall of the holder. The bottom wall of the holder is conical and 3 converges downwardly to a central drain opening |32. The core |29 of the pad has fitted therein a sediment cup |33 to receive foreign matter. The cup rests on the notched inner ends of the ribs 3| and the top surface of the pad slopes downwardly to the upper edge of the cup which is marginally iianged.

The bottom wall of the pad holder has downwardly projecting bosses |34 to which a pair of spaced parallel horizontal bars |35 are secured by screws |33. The bars are slidably guided in tracks |31 mounted on the top wall of a tank |38 below the pad holder, so that the holder may be removed through a doorway |39 in the front wall of the casing 25 for replacing the pad. The The top wall of the tank |38 has an opening |40 registering with the drain opening |32 in the pad holder |30 to receive the ltered oil, which is ready for use and is drawn from the tank at l suitable intervals.

The upper surface of the lter pad |29 tends` to become coated with a deposit which prevents free passage of the oil. This deposit is removed by a plurality of scraper shoes |41 and |42 which slidably bear on the upper surface of the pad, and are impelled by the rotary arm |25. The arm |25 carries a pair of parallel horizontal transversely extending pins |43 at opposite sides of its axis. Each pin pivotally carries a bell-crank |44 on the lower ends of which are pins |45. An L-shaped connector |46 is pivotally mounted on each pin and has a downwardly projecting leg carrying a cross pin |41. Each scraper shoe is notched at its rear edge to receive the downwardly projecting connector leg and is pivoted thereon by the cross pin |41. At one side edge the scraper shoe is provided with spaced upstanding jaws |48 loosely receiving between them the laterally projecting-leg of the connector |46 toI limit the swinging movement oftlie scraper. On each scraper shoe |4| (Fig. 16) the jaws |48 are at one side edge, while on each scraper shoe |42 the jaws are at the other side edge. Each scraper shoe has a diagonal upstan-ding ange |49' which works foreign matter toward the central sediment cup |33. .The bottom of each scraper shoe is arched, as seen in Fig. 16, and each has a front scraping edge and a rounded rear heel |50 which rest on the pad, the weight being so distributed-as to avoid excessive pressure. on the pad at the scraping edge. The scraper shoes also have the effect of pressing the filter pad, the resilience of which restores it to normal shape in condition to' readily absorb oil.

The oil reclaimer is equipped with a number of thermostatic switches to insure operation of the` device in a desired temperature range. The receiving tank 21 has a thermostatic switch |5| at its rear wall. The neutralizing tank 52 and neutralizing tank 13 have respective thermostatic switches |52 and |53 at their side walls. The still 85 has a pair of thermostatic switches |54 and |55 at opposite side walls.

The rear wall ci the casing 25 carries a junction. box |53 lfrom which conduits lead to various parts of the casing. A pair of line wires |51 and |58 (Fig. 17) enter the compartment 35 at the upper end of the housing. The latter wire is provided with a fuse |53 and a hand switch (Fig. 17) and is connected by a conductor |5| with one terminal of the mercury tube switch 34. The other terminal or the mercury tube switch is connected to a wire |02. The line wire |51 and con-ductor |82 are connected to respective bus wires |33 and |64 in the junction box |56. The bus wires are connected by wires and |66 to the receiving tank heater 30, one of the latter wires including the thermostatic switch |51. The bus wires are similarly connected to the neutralizing tank heater and thermostatic switch |52 by wires |61 and |38, to the scrubbing tank heater 14 and thermostatie switch |53 by wires |69 and |10, and to the still heaters 83 and thermostatic switch |54 by wires |1| and |12. One terminal of the still-heated thermostatic switch |55 is connected by a wire |13 with the line wire |58 between the fuse |59 and the hand switch |80, so as not to be affecte-d by the opening or closing of the hand switch. The other terminal of the thermostatic switch |55 is connected with a bus wire |14 from which extend wires |15, |16, and |11 leading to terminals of the condenser motor |08, the exhaust motor |||J and the pad cleaner motor H3. The other terminals of these motors are connected by respective wires |18, |19, and joining the bus wire |63. A wire |8| connects the bus wire |14 with one terminal of the winding of a relay switch |82, the other terminal of which is connected to the line wire |51 by a wire |83. The relay switch |82 is in the nature of a singlepole double-throw switch having terminals |84 and |85. One of the terminals |85 is connected to the wire |8| and one of the terminals |84 is connected by a wire |80 with the wire |62. The other terminals |84 and |85 are connected by a wire |81 with one terminal of the solenoid 5|,

the other terminal of which is connected by a wire |88 joining the bus wire |63. The relay switch |82 is hand set to a position bridging the terminals |84 and when energized is shifted to a position bridging the terminals |85. When the relay switch |82 is thereafter de-ener'gized, the switch is opened.

The still is maintained at a temperature from 450 to 475 F. by the thermostatic switch |54, which is preferably adjustable. If the still temperature falls below 380 F. the thermostatic switch |55 opens. The thermostatic switches |5|, |52, and |53 for the various tanks maintain an operating temperature of about 160 F.

When a quantity of oil is to be reclaimed, it is preferably subjected to a preliminary settling operation. It is then poured into the receiving tank 21, which may be done with the apparatus at room temperature. The hand switch |60 is closed, and the mercury tube switch 34 closes as soon as the oil rises, establishing circuits through the various heating elements. With the relay switch |82 in hand-set position, a circuit is also established through the solenoid 5| by way of the wires |86, |81, |88, and |63, thus opening the control valve 50 in the Aregulating tank 36. Oil flows from the receiving tank into the regulating tank until the float 39 closes the valve 38. The ported valve disk 05 is turned to a position corresponding to the body of the oil being reclaimed, a heavier oil requiring a larger port. Oil flows slowly through the valve disk port into the. pipe 69 from which it discharges upwardly into the filter or screen grid 59 in the neutralizingY tank. The oilis here neutralized and freed of a considerable amount of suspended matter.

The neutralized and filtered oil ows by way of the trap 10 and pipe 1| to the lower end of the scrubbing tank 13 along which the oil rises and is further cleaned, ready to ow into the still 85 by way of the trap compartment 83 and pipe 84. During the slow passage of the oil from the receiving tank to the still, the various tanks and the still reach their operating temperatures, so that the oil flows more freely. As soon as the flow control thermostatic switch |55 reaches 380 F. it closes a circuit through the wTnding of the relay switch |82 by way of the wires |13, |14, |8l, and |83, thus bridging the contacts |85 to -shift the control of the solenoid valve 50, 5|

to this thermostatic switch. 'I'he solenoid valve thereafter remains open, but will close whenever the temperature of the still drops below 380 F. The closing of the thermostatic switch |55 also establishes motor circuits setting in operation the condenser motor |08, the exhaust motor and the pad cleaner motor ||6. These motors stop as soon as the still temperature drops sufciently to open the thermostatic switch |55.

In the still, water and volatile substances are driven from the oil and are drawn from the ystill through the condenser |05, trap and eX- haust fan |09. Any vapors condensing at the top of the still ow along the plate |0| into the trough |02 from which the condensate is removed through the bleeder pipe |06. Vapors in the lter pad compartment are drawn oi through the still by way of the pipe |03. The reclaimer is thus kept free from unpleasant odors.

The oil drops from the discharge nozzle 9| of the still onto the trough-forming bracket or frame ils where it lubricates the gearing for the pad cleaner before being discharged by gravity through the opening |26 and onto the rotary trough-forming arm |25. From the arm |25 the oil is distributed through the drain openings |28 onto the upper surface of the filter pad |29 and seeps through the pad. The scraper shoes MI and |42 scrape the deposit from the upper surface of the pad the deposit nding its way into the central sediment cup |33. The s-crapers also press the pad in their travel. The filter removes parafln and asphaltic material from the oil. The oil flows through the Illter pad parallel to the plies and the foreign matter is deposited mainly between the plies. The filtered oil is drained from the opening |32 in the pad holder and enters the finished oil tank |38 from which it is drawn for use.

When the oil in the receiving tank 21 drops to a low level, the float 3| tilts the mercury tube switch 34 to its open position, thereby shutting off the current to the various heating elements. However, to prevent flashing in the still, the motors remain in operation and the solenoid valve 50, remains open until the still cools to about 380 F. At this temperature the thermostatic switch |55 opens to stop the motors and close the valve.

At suitable intervals, the screen grids in the neutralizing tank and scrubbing tank are lifted out and thoroughly cleaned, and the neutralizing solution is renewed from time to time. The solution and sludge are drained from the lower valve 51Vuntil oil appears, and new solution is admitted to the level of the upper valve 51. The lter pad |29 also requires periodic renewal, the holder |30 being removed from the housing 25 for this purpose. When removing the holder, the rotary arm |25 is slid up on the shaft |24, as indicated in Fig. 1. The trap is cleaned through the top opening of the neutralizing tank.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In an oil reclaimer, a still for removing volatile matter from oil, Ventilating means for said still, and means influenced by still temperature to control said Ventilating means and to insure operation of said Ventilating means at any temperature of the still above a predetermined value.

Y2. In an oil reclaimer a still for removing Volatile matter from oil, a filter compartment supplied with oil from said still, and means for conducting vapors from said compartment through said still.

3. In an oil reclaimer, an oil-receiving tank, a regulating tank to which oil ows by gravity from said receiving tank, a neutralizing tank, a scrubbing tank, oil conduit connections between said successive tanks for gravity flow of oil, a still having a conduit connection with said scrubbing tank for gravity flow of oil to said still, and a lter receiving oil by gravity from said still, said regulating tank maintaining a substantially constant head of oil for causing oil to flow by gravity through the successive instrumentalities.

4. In an oil reclaimer, a still for removing volatile matter from oil and having a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet, a lter compartment sup-` vapors from the still, and means controlled by vapors from the still, and means controlled by still temperature for automatically rendering said vapor-removing means eiective when the temperature of the still rises during the Warming-up period to a predetermined temperature 5 lower than the normal operating temperature.

FRANK A. I-IEADSON. 

